Despite the significance of OM content in the soil quality, this
parameter did not offer much response to environmental changes
in the soil. In contrast, the biological processes involved in its transformation
are more sensitive to environmental perturbations of the
different origin. For example, the results of Sardans et al. (2008)
confirm that moderate increase of soil temperature in spring,
autumn or winter when soil water content is greater, can imply a
great increase in soil urease activity in comparison with changes
among different seasons, where great changes in soil temperature
have only moderate effects on soil enzyme activity. Factors
influencing soil microbial activity exert control over soil enzyme
production and nutrient availability (Sinsabaugh et al., 1993). Soil
enzyme activities are “sensors” of soil microbial status and soil
physico-chemical conditions